Tamper unit for mobile track tamping machine

ABSTRACT

A structural tamper unit is vertically movably mounted on a mobile track tamping machine. The tamping tool carrier is pivotal in a plane parallel to the track, and a hydraulicaLly operated drive means for vibrating the tamping tool carrier is mounted directly on the carrier.

United States Patent Plasser et a1.

[ 1 June 13, 1972 [54] TAMPER UNIT FOR MOBILE TRACK TAMPING MACHINE [72] Inventors: Franz Plasser; Josef Theurer, both of Johannesgasse 3 A-1010, Vienna, Austria [22] Filed: July 17,1970

[21] Appl.No.: 55,786

3,426,697 2/1969 Stewart ..104/12 2,107,639 2/1938 Madison 2,986,100 5/1961 Kershaw 3,292,558 12/1966 Oville 104/12 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 753,833 8/1956 Great Britain ..104/12 Primary Examiner-Ar1hur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch Att0meyl(urt Kelman [5 7] ABSTRACT A structural tamper unit is vertically movably mounted on a mobile track tampingmachine. The tamping tool carrier is pivotal in a plane parallel to the track, and a hydraulicaLly operated drive meansvfor vibrating the tamping tool carrier is mounted directly on the carrier,

12 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures [:IIII

TAMPER UNIT FOR MOBILE TRACK TAMPING MACHINE The present invention relates to a novel structural tamper unit and mobile track tamping machines incorporating such units.

In tamping machines which are mounted for mobility on a track including rails supported on ties extending transversely to the elongation of the track, it has been proposed to mount tamping tools constituting levers which may be pivoted in a plane substantially parallel to the track elongation and in the direction of an adjacent tie, and to operate not only this pivoting movement but also the vibration of the tools as well as the vertical adjustment thereof for immersion in the ballast by hydraulic power.

However, known hydraulic drives for these purposes have been found to lack maximum efficiency, to require complex and space-consuming structures for the hydraulic circuits, and thus to make the most advantageous arrangement of the tools on the machine impossible, in addition to producing insufficient vibrations.

Electrically powered drives for vibratory tamping tools have also been proposed but, in addition to electrical circuitry which is subject to operating difficulties, the vibrations obtained by these known drives were relatively weak.

In tamping apparatus wherein several tamping tools were vibrated by connecting each tool by a tubular conduit to a single hydraulic fluid supply, it has not been possible to vibrate the tools in their pivoted position.

It is the primary object of the present invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages by providing a hydraulically operated drive means for vibrating the tamping tool which is unitary with the tamping tool carrier so as to be pivotal therewith so as to form a compact structural tamper unit. Such a unit in combination with like units forming a tamping assembly, if desired, may be arranged on a mobile track tamping machine in a great variety of forms best suited for particular tamping conditions in association with the respective rails of the track.

According to this invention, such a structural tamping unit is vertically adjustably mounted on the machine and comprises a tamping tool and a carrier for the tamping tool which includes a holder for the tamping tool. The carrier holding the tamping tool as a unit is pivotal in a plane substantially parallel to the track elongation and in the direction of an adjacent tie, and hydraulically operated drive means for vibrating the carrier holding the tamping tool is mounted directly on the tamping tool carrier.

Preferably, the pivoting means is also hydraulically operated.

In a specific embodiment, the hydraulically operated drive means comprises a drive shaft extending transversely of the track, a vibration producing structural part, such as a sliding ring, journaled on the drive shaft, and a guide member, such as a bearing for the sliding ring, engaging the structural part and mounted on the carrier holding the tamping tool for movement therewith. The structural part vibrates the guide member and the carrier in vibratory motions substantially parallel to the pivoting plane upon rotation of the drive shaft.

A structural tamper unit and a tamping assembly formed of such units is a compact and simple structure which may be assembled of standardized structural parts in manifold arrangements. Such units or assemblies may be used exclusively on a tamping machine or they may be added to such machines carrying other types of tamping tools, for instance in switch tarnpers. The efficiency of the pivotal and vibratory tamping tools is at a maximum because of the minimum of transmission means for transmitting motion from one part to another. These units and assemblies also take relatively little space on the tamping machine.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of certain now preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a side view of one very simple embodiment of a track tamper according to this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a structural unit incorporating one tamping tool;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section through the structural unit of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 4 to 17 are schematic views showing various arrangements incorporating such structural units.

FIG. 18 is a diagram of a hydraulic operating circuit for the vibrating and reciprocating drives for the tamping tools.

The machine illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a machine frame 1 mounted on wheels 2 for mobility on the track including rails 3 supported on ties 4 which rest on ballast. The front end of the machine frame has a vertical trackway 5 wherein the carrier frame 7 is mounted for vertical movement under the power of hydraulic motor 6, the carrier frame projecting over a track section to be tamped. The carrier frame 7 supports the structural tamper units 8 of the invention. A suitable rail gripping element 9, such as gripping rollers, is mounted at the front end of the carrier frame 7 and is connected to a hydraulic motor 10 for raising the track, if desired, for instance in relation to a reference system (not shown) which forms no part of the present invention. The track is fixed in position by tamping the ballast, as is also known.

The structural tamper units of this invention are mounted on the vertical support column 11 for pivotal movement about this column, the support column being fixedly braced on the carrier frame 7. An embodiment of a structural tamper unit is shown in the enlarged views of FIGS. 2 and 3.

The drive shaft 13 of the unit is journaled in a two-part housing 12. The output shaft of a hydraulic motor 14 is aligned with the drive shaft and one end of the drive shaft is coupled to the output shaft of the motor by clutch 16 so that the shaft may be driven by the motor. The other end of the drive shaft carries a fly weight 15. A support shaft 17, which extends parallel to drive shaft 13, is journaled in the lower portion of housing 12, the bushings 19 of the tamping tool holders 18 being journaled on the respective ends of the support shaft 17 which project from housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, one of the tamping tool holders is fixedly held on the support shaft by bolt 20 threadedly engaging a threaded axial bore in the end of the support shaft while the other tamping tool holder is mounted on the support shaft for movement along its axis. For this purpose a fastening bolt 21 projects into an axially extending guide groove 22 on the projecting end of the support shaft, the bolt being loosened when it is desired to move the tamping tool holder and then fastened in position like a set screw. In this manner, the distance of the pair of tamping tool holders from each other and/or from rail 3 may be adjusted. The tamping tools 18 are removably mounted in the tamping tool holders in a manner well known per se.

The transmission of the driving force from shaft 13 to shaft 17 for vibrating the shaft and the tamping tools supported thereby may take any suitable form. The preferred transmission illustrated in the drawing includes a sliding ring 13 which is freely rotatably mounted on drive shaft 13 and moves in a guide 24 which is fixedly keyed to support shaft 17. The sliding ring 23 is eccentrically mounted so that only those vibrations caused by the sliding ring which are perpendicular to the guide 24 are transmitted to shaft 17. The vibratory motions move the guide 24 and the shaft 17, which is fixed thereto, alternately to one side and the other. This causes the tamping tools to be alternately oscillated and thus to be vibrated in a plane which is parallel to the direction of the pivotal movement of the tamping tools now to be described.

To effectuate the pivotal movement of the tamping tools towards and away from an adjacent tie in a direction parallel to the elongation of the track, a pair of bracket arms 25, 25 are fixed to the housing 12, the outer ends of the bracket anns being linked at 27 to one end of hydraulic motor 26 whose other end is linked at 28 to the support column 11 of the carrior frame.

It is advantageous for the hydraulic vibrating motor 14 to be in operative connection with at least one of the hydraulic pivoting motors 26 through a valve control, for instance, so as to form a single hydraulic drive system for the tamping tools. In such a system, the hydraulic motor 14 constitutes a common power source for the vibration and pivoting of the tamping tools. Such an arrangement provides a very compact structural tamper unit with a very simple hydraulic circuit which permits excellent control of the frequency of vibrations and the pivotal pressure of the tamping tools, which considerably reduces operating troubles under rough tamping conditions.

Merely by way of example and in no way limiting the present machine to this particular embodiment, a useful hydraulic control circuit for vibrating and reciprocating the tamping tools is shown in FIG. 18.

As shown in this FIG., a constant speed pump 32 delivers hydraulic fluid from hydraulic fluid supply sump 31 to the control or programming unit 33, a pressure relief valve 34 being mounted in the circuit. The output of the unit 33 is connected to two-way control valves 35, 35 to direct hydraulic fluid selectively to one or the other chamber of hydraulic pivoting motors 26 for reciprocation of the tamping tools. Simultaneously, the output of unit 33 is connected to the hydraulic vibrating motors 14 mounted on housings 12. Thus, a single hydraulic operating circuit is provided for the operation of the vibrating and reciprocating drives of the tamping tools.

Tamper units of this type may be used in a great variety of arrangements in track tampers and other track working machines. In such arrangements, a hydromechanically operable tamping assembly may be formed of several such units and the tamping tool holders of the tamping tools may be so interconnected that the hydraulic vibration of one tool is mechanically transmitted to the other tools whereby all the tamping tools vibrate in unison while they may be pivoted in respect of each other, the tamping tools being vertically movable together.

In such a tamping assembly, a single hydraulic drive for a pair or group of tamping tools will suffice while the tamping tools may be individually moved and adjusted within the assembly. This makes for great compactness and a very spacesaving structure. The control of the movement of the tamping tools is very simple and, if desired, the movements of neighboring structural tamper units may be synchronized by suitably hydraulic circuitry well within the skill ofthe art.

All the parts of the tamper units forming the tamping assembly may be readily prefabricated and standardized so that they may be assembled without difficulty into assemblies of any desired form in a minimum of time and with a minimum of skill, all the parts having the necessary connections, centering elements and the like for easy assemblage. Damaged parts or units may be readily replaced during operation, if desired, with little loss of time.

Some, although by no means all, possible arrangements of structural tamper units constructed according to the present invention are schematically illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 17. In all of these FIGS., the tamper units or tamping assemblies are associated with a rail 3 for tamping ballast underneath an adjacent tie 4 when the tamping tools are immersed in a crib. Also, all the FIGS. show the hydraulic motor 14 for vibrating the tamping tools, whether associated with a single unit 8, 8 or associated with an assembly of several units all of which are driven by one motor 14. The FIGS. also schematically indicate a hydraulic connection socket for each unit to show that the same may be readily assembled and connected to one hydraulic circuit.

The structural tamper units 8 have a single tamping tool 18 while the tamper units 8' have a pair of such tools. However, as indicated in some of the FIGS, both types of units may have the same outer dimensions so as to be readily exchangeable, if desired, although they carry different numbers of tamping tools.

FIG. 4 shows an arrangement of a single structural tamper unit 8 having two tamping tools 18 positioned on respective sides of rail 3, which is the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show units 8 and 8', respectively, each unit being arranged only at one side of the rail.

In FIG. 7, two units 8 are combined into a tamping assembly 29 having a total of four tamping tools. The two units are mounted on a common carrier which is pivotal or rotatable about a vertical axis 30, which is similar to the arrangement shown in FIG. 1. The adjustability of the tamping tool positions in this arrangement makes it particularly useful in track sections which are somewhat irregular and require sensitive adjustments in the tamping locations, such as branch rails in track curves, obliquely positioned ties, etc. Rotation of the tamping assembly carrier about an axis perpendicular to the roadbed makes fine adjustments of the tamping tool positions possible.

In this embodiment of the invention, it is preferred to arrange the pivoting axis of the tamper unit or tamping assembly in a vertical plane of symmetry of the unit or assembly which is parallel to perpendicular to the direction of track elongation. In this manner, the movements of the tamping tools at both sides of the rail or of the tie will also be symmetrical so that these movements may be controlled by observing merely the movements of a single one of the tools.

FIG. 7 also shows that a common hydraulic motor 14 is used to operate all the tamping tools of the assembly, a transmission being used to transmit the driving force to the tamping tools of the unit 8' which does not have the motor.

In the arrangement of FIG. 8, each tamper unit 8' is mounted on an individual carrier 29 pivotal about a vertical axis 30, the carriers 29' being mounted on a common support 29 straddling the rail 30, with each tamper unit being positioned on a respective side of the rail. This arrangement permits the respective units to be individually adjusted, with each unit being provided with a separate drive 14.

FIG. 9 shows an arrangement in which two units 8 are mounted on a common carrier pivotal about vertical axis 30 on one side of the rail while two units 8' are separately pivotally mounted about vertical axes 30 on the other side of the rail 3, the units on each side of the rail being operated by a single motor 14.

It is also possible to mount the tamper units or tamping assembly for transverse movement in respect of the track, either in unison or individually so that the tamping locations may be suitably changed in a lateral direction at switch or other track points requiring such adjustment.

FIG. 10 schematically shows an arrangement of the latter type. In this embodiment, a pair of tamper units 8' are mounted on a common carrier to form a tamping assembly on each side of the rail 3, the tamping assemblies being slidably mounted on a transverse support for movement in relation to each other and/or to the rail. In the variation of FIG. 11, two similar pairs of units 8 are mounted on a common carrier, with the pairs of units being positioned on respective sides of the rail and the common carrier being slidable on a transverse trackway 31 in respect of the rail. While separate motors 14 are shown for each tamping assembly in FIG. 10, where the assemblies are movable in relation to each other, a single motor 14 is used for all tamping tools in the unitary assembly of FIG. 1 1.

FIG. 13 illustrates a tamping assembly consisting of a total of eight units 8' pairs of which are positioned on respective sides of the rails 3, 3. Actually, this arrangement is basically a duplication of the arrangement of FIG. 10, Le. the arrangement of FIG. 10 is used for each rail of the track. As shown, a single motor 14 may be used for the two assemblies adjacent each other inside the track rails, with the schematically shown transmission of power from one motor 14 to all the other units. Also, each or some of the individual assemblies may be pivotal about vertical axis 30.

The modification of FIG. 14 is basically a duplication of the arrangement of FIG. 7 wherein two tamping assemblies are mounted over the respective rails and are each pivotal about a vertical axis of symmetry 30 passing through the associated rail. The pivotal adjustment of such tamping assemblies is shown on an enlarged scale in FIG. 12 where the tamping assemblies are over a switch point.

FIG. 15 shows an arrangement wherein a series of tamping assemblies are spaced in the direction of track elongation for tamping in adjacent cribs, each assembly consisting of two tamper units 8' mounted on a common carrier pivotal about a vertical axis 30, and having a single motor 14 with a suitable power transmission to the other unit of the assembly. Three such spaced assemblies are shown so that three adjacent ties may be tamped simultaneously.

In FIG. 16, on the other hand, two tamping assemblies are provided for simultaneously tamping two adjacent ties, each such assembly consisting of two pairs of tamper units 8', each pair being mounted on a carrier 29 pivotal about a vertical axis 30. A respective pair of units is mounted on each side of the rail 3 and the units of each pair are mounted on respective sides of each tie 4. A single hydraulic motor 14 is used for the two adjacent assemblies on each side of the rail, suitable power transmission means being indicated in broken lines.

FIG. 17 is a top view of a mobile track tamper similar to that shown in Hg. 1 and carrying tamping assemblies similar to those shown in FIGS. 14 and 12, the adjustment of the tamping assemblies at an oblique tie being clearly shown in this FIG. A further adjustment of the tamping assemblies is also indicated in FIG. 17. As indicated by the double-headed, horizontally extending arrows in this FIG., the tamping assemblies may also be mounted for movement in the direction of track elongation on carrier frame 7, thus making very fine adjustments possible in all directions. As the double-headed arrows show, universal adjustment of the tamping assembly positions in adaptation to all track conditions is thus made possible.

In mobile track tampers of the type illustrated in FIG. 17, which may be used as a track leveling machine when provided with a reference system of any suitable or conventional kind and with hydraulically operated track raising and/or shifting units, the hydraulically operated structural tamper units of this invention are particularly useful because all the track raising and tamper units may then be operated through a single hydraulic fluid supply circuit wherein the flow of hydraulic fluid to the individual units and/or assemblies of tamper units may be programmed with the highest efficiency.

We claim:

1. A structural tamper unit for a mobile track tamping machine mounted for mobility on a track including rails supported on ties extending transversely to the elongation of the track, means being provided for vertically adjustably mounting the tamper unit on the tamping machine, and the tamper unit comprising 1. a tamping tool;

2. a carrier for the tamping tool,

a. the tamping tool carrier including a holder for the tamping tool;

3. means independent of said vertical adjusting means for pivoting the carrier holding the tamping tool as a unit in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the track elongation and in the direction of the track elongation towards and away from an adjacent one of said ties; and

4. hydraulically operated drive means for vibrating the carrier holding the tamping tool,

a. the hydraulically operated drive means being mounted directly on the tamping tool carrier.

2. The structural tamper unit of claim 1, wherein the pivoting means is hydraulically operated.

3. The structural tamper unit of claim 1, wherein the hydraulically operated drive means comprises a drive shaft extending transversely of the track, a vibration producing structural part journaled on the drive shaft, and a guide member engaging the structural part and mounted on the carrier holding the tarnpin tool for movement therewith, the structural part vibrating t e guide member and the carrier in vibratory motions substantially parallel to the pivoting plane upon rotation of the drive shaft.

4. The structural tamper unit of claim 3, wherein the structural part is a slide ring and the guide member is an annular bearing for the slide ring.

5. A mobile track tamping machine mounted for mobility on a track including rails supported on ties extending transversely to the elongation of the track, comprising a hydromechanically operable tamping assembly vertically adjustably mounted on the machine, the assembly comprising two structural tamper units, each unit including 1. a tamping tool;

2. a carrier for the tamping tool, (a) the tamping tool carrier including a holder for the tamping tool;

3. means for pivoting the carrier holding the tamping tool as a unit in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the track elongation and in the track elongation direction towards an adjacent ones of said ties,

b. the tamping tool of said tamper units being pivotal towards each other;

4. hydraulically operated drive means for vibrating the carrier holding the tamping tool of one of, said tamper units, c. the hydraulically operated drive means being mounted directly on the tamping tool carrier;

5. drive means for vibrating the carrier holding the tamping tool of the other one of said tamper units; and

6. transmission means interconnecting the drive means of said tamper units for transmitting power from the hydraulically operated drive means to the other drive means.

6. The mobile track tamping machine of claim 5, further comprising means for pivoting the tamping assembly, associated with a respective one of the rails independently of the tamping assembly associated with the other rail about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the track.

7. The mobile track tamping machine of claim 6, wherein two of said tamping assemblies are associated with a respective one of said rails, the tamping assemblies being arranged on respective sides of the rails and one of the tamping assemblies associated with each rail being pivotal about said axis.

8. The mobile track tamping machine of claim 6, wherein the structural tamper units are symmetrically arranged in said assembly and said axis extends in a vertical plane of symmetry of the assembly.

9. The mobile track tamping machine of claim 5, further comprising a substantially fixed axle supporting the carrier holding the tamping tool for pivoting about said axle, and the hydraulically operated drive means has an output shaft substantially coaxial with said axle.

10. The mobile track tamping machine of claim 5, further comprising means for moving the tamping assembly transversely of the track.

11. The mobile track tamping machine of claim 10, wherein two of said tamping assemblies are associated with each of said rails, the tamping assemblies being arranged on respective sides of each rail and one of said assemblies associated with each rail being transversely movable.

12. The mobile track tamping machine of claim 5, wherein the pivoting means is hydraulically operated, and the hydraulically operated drive means and the hydraulically operated pivoting means are connected to a single hydraulic fluid supply circuit. 

1. A structural tamper unit for a mobile track tamping machine mounted for mobility on a track including rails supported on ties extending transversely to the elongation of the track, means being provided for vertically adjustably mounting the tamper unit on the tamping machine, and the tamper unit comprising
 1. a tamping tool;
 2. a carrier for the tamping tool, a. the tamping tool carrier including a holder for the tamping tool;
 3. means independent of said vertical adjusting means for pivoting the carrier holding the tamping tool as a unit in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the track elongation and in the direction of the track elongation towards and away from an adjacent one of said ties; and
 4. hydraulically operated drive means for vibrating the carrier holding the tamping tool, a. the hydraulically operated drive means being mounted directly on the tamping tool carrier.
 2. a carrier for the tamping tool, a. the tamping tool carrier including a holder for the tamping tool;
 2. The structural tamper unit of claim 1, wherein the pivoting means is hydraulically operated.
 2. a carrier for the tamping tool, (a) the tamping tool carrier including a holder for the tamping tool;
 3. means for pivoting the carrier holding the tamping tool as a unit in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the track elongation and in the track elongation direction towards an adjacent ones of said ties, b. the tamping tool of said tamper units being pivotal towards each other;
 3. The structural tamper unit of claim 1, wherein the hydraulically operated drive means comprises a drive shaft extending transversely of the track, a vibration producing structural part journaled on the drive shaft, and a guide member engaging the structural part and mounted on the carrier holding the tamping tool for movement therewith, the structural part vibrating the guide member and the carrier in vibratory motions substantially parallel to the pivoting plane upon rotation of the drive shaft.
 3. means independent of said vertical adjusting means for pivoting the carrier holding the tamping tool as a unit in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the track elongation and in the direction of the track elongation towards and away from an adjacent one of said ties; and
 4. hydraulically operated drive means for vibrating the carrier holding the tamping tool, a. the hydraulically operated drive means being mounted directly on the tamping tool carrier.
 4. The structural tamper unit of claim 3, wherein the structural part is a slide ring and the guide member is an annular bearing for the slide ring.
 4. hydraulically operated drive means for vibrating the carrier holding the tamping tool of one of said tamper units, c. the hydraulically operated drive means being mounted directly on the tamping tool carrier;
 5. drive means for vibrating the carrier holding the tamping tool of the other one of said tamper units; and
 5. A mobile track tamping machine mounted for mobility on a track including rails supported on ties extending transversely to the elongation of the track, comprising a hydromechanically operable tamping assembly vertically adjustably mounted on the machine, the assembly comprising two structural tamper units, each unit including
 6. transmission means interconnecting the drive means of said tamper units for transmitting power from the hydraulically operated drive means to the other drive means.
 6. The mobile track tamping machine of claim 5, further comprising means for pivoting the tamping assembly, associated with a respective one of the rails independently of the tamping assembly associated with the other rail about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the track.
 7. The mobile track tamping machine of claim 6, wherein two of said tamping assemblies are associated with a respective one of said rails, the tamping assemblies being arranged on respective sides of the rails and one of the tamping assemblies associated with each rail being pivotal about said axis.
 8. The mobile track tamping machine of claim 6, wherein the structural tamper units are symmetrically arranged in said assembly and said axis extends in a vertical plane of symmetry of the assembly.
 9. The mobile track tamping machine of claim 5, further comprising a substaNtially fixed axle supporting the carrier holding the tamping tool for pivoting about said axle, and the hydraulically operated drive means has an output shaft substantially coaxial with said axle.
 10. The mobile track tamping machine of claim 5, further comprising means for moving the tamping assembly transversely of the track.
 11. The mobile track tamping machine of claim 10, wherein two of said tamping assemblies are associated with each of said rails, the tamping assemblies being arranged on respective sides of each rail and one of said assemblies associated with each rail being transversely movable.
 12. The mobile track tamping machine of claim 5, wherein the pivoting means is hydraulically operated, and the hydraulically operated drive means and the hydraulically operated pivoting means are connected to a single hydraulic fluid supply circuit. 